KUALA LUMPUR, 30 October 2025: Tourism Malaysia welcomed Xiamen Airlines on the successful launch of its inaugural direct flight connecting Quanzhou and Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Flight MF8661 landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at approximately 1445 (local time), marking the launch of direct air services from Quanzhou, a city renowned as the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
Operating four times a week with a Boeing 738 aircraft, the route connects Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport (JJN) to KLIA (KUL) Terminal 1. The aircraft has a seating capacity for 169 passengers — eight in business class and 161 in economy class.
The new route reflects a significant step forward in enhancing air connectivity between Malaysia and southern China, fostering deeper bilateral cooperation and driving growth in tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.
Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director General (Promotion II) Samuel Lee emphasised: “This launch is prominent in enhancing the growing tourism relations between Malaysia and China. Beyond improving travel accessibility for visitors from Quanzhou and the surrounding regions, it underscores our commitment to promoting Malaysia as a premier travel destination in Southeast Asia. We look forward to welcoming more travellers from Quanzhou to explore Malaysia’s vibrant cultural heritage, stunning natural attractions, and diverse tourism offerings that make our nation truly exceptional.”
From January to August 2025, Malaysia recorded 3.3 million visitor arrivals from China, a 27.5% increase over the same period in 2024. Such growth highlights Malaysia’s growing appeal to Chinese travellers, especially its vibrant urban destinations, diverse culinary offerings, tranquil islands, and culturally rich heritage towns. With the new direct flight by Xiamen Airlines, Malaysia will continue to deliver a seamless and convenient travel experience for visitors from China.
Tourism Malaysia remains committed to strengthening collaboration with international airlines, airport authorities, and industry partners to enhance the nation’s global air connectivity and expand its tourism footprint.
(Source: Tourism Malaysia)
